A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Nissan Murano

The 2012 Nissan Murano is a sleek crossover SUV that has all the modern amenities. It has ample interior space with a luxurious feel, and a driver oriented suspension. If you need a vehicle that can hold passengers and cargo, this is the one for you.

Key Features

The Murano has 3.5 liter V6 engine and 260hp. The transmission is a two speed CVT with OD. A backup camera comes standard as does a dual panel moonroof. A power liftgate and 20 inch alloy wheels are optional. The Murano gets 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

Changes for 2012

Nissan has added a platinum package that comes with the 20 inch wheel option. Standard navigation is also new for 2012. The S model Murano has a seven inch monochrome screen.

What We Like

The steering on the Nissan Murano is excellent along with the brake response. It can go up steep hills without any problem due to its V6 engine. The high quality interior made the Murano feel comfortable along with the heated steering wheel, Bose audio system, and voice activated navigation system.

Available Models

The Nissan Murano comes in the SL and LE series for the year of 2012. The SL has a 3.5 liter V6 all-wheel drive automatic. It has 260hp at 6000 rpm. While driving in the city, expect 18 mpg and 23 mpg for the highway. The SL has Bluetooth with heated seats, but no navigation. The LE gets 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. It is a V6 automatic and is front wheel drive.

Major Recalls

The Nissan Murano has one recall from February 2012. The tire pressure monitoring and regulating systems were not activated in vehicles manufactured from November 23, 2011 to January 11, 2012. The system does not warn the driver that the tire is underinflated.

Common Issues

The handling, especially on curves, was cause for some concern. The Murano tended to sway and lean even on the smallest of curves. The gas mileage could be better, as it is less than the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CRV.

One complaint consumers had about the Murano was the smell of a coolant leak, some of the vehicles did have leaks where others did not find any problems yet still smelled coolant. Another complaint is debris hitting the condenser and puncturing it as there is no protective cover. This will cause the A/C to not work properly.

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